Classic & Vintage - Installing Drop Levers on Small Diameter Handlebar

I am in the process of swapping the porteur handlebar on my Peugeot to a dropbar that I have laying around the basement and which I received from rhm a few months back. Because the diameter of the bar (22.2mm) is too small for the clamp on the lever (23.8mm), it will not tighten sufficiently. Here are my questions:


Can I safely shim the levers?
Can a piece of inner tube be used as a shim, assuming it is safe to do so?
If inner tube is not suggested for shim material, what else could be used for a shim?


Thanks folks!

A lot of those clamps came in sizes, might want to dig through a box at the co-op or your LBS. Not sure a soft matl shim is going to be stable enough

A lot of those clamps came in sizes, might want to dig through a box at the co-op or your LBS. Not sure a soft matl shim is going to be stable enough

What about a soda can for shim material?

I agree. Best to have the right clamp, or, failing that, I would shim it with appropriately sized alum. shim stock (usually available at the lhs) rather than something pliable.

[edit] Nothing wrong with the soda can material, but it's going to be too thin I think. I'd rather just have one piece the right thickness rather than several wraps of something thin.

I agree. Best to have the right clamp, or, failing that, I would shim it with appropriately sized alum. shim stock (usually available at the lhs) rather than something pliable.

[edit] Nothing wrong with the soda can material, but it's going to be too thin I think. I'd rather just have one piece the right thickness rather than several wraps of something thin.

Unfortunately, the LBS closed at 3 PM and I was hoping to do this today. :( I guess it will have to wait.

Cut a couple of strips from the soda can, epoxy them together to the desired thickness and install your levers.

Cut a couple of strips from the soda can, epoxy them together to the desired thickness and install your levers.

As it turns out I just discovered I don't have a soda can, but instead a beer can. Will that work? ;)

The strips glued together with epoxy idea sounds workable to me.

What kind of levers? For some reason I have a lot more 22.2 mm clamps than 23.8 mm clamps. And a lot more 23.8 mm drop bars than 22.2 mm drop bars.

I've had good luck with a scrap of copper flashing on one or two bikes before.

What kind of levers? For some reason I have a lot more 22.2 mm clamps than 23.8 mm clamps. And a lot more 23.8 mm drop bars than 22.2 mm drop bars.

The levers are Weinmann. They were on the Carlton originally.

I've had good luck with a scrap of copper flashing on one or two bikes before.

Unfortunately, I don't have any copper flashing or any flashing laying around that I'm aware of.

The levers are Weinmann. They were on the Carlton originally.

Then if you look around you should be able to find a set of Wienman or Diacompe 22.2 clamps that will bolt to these levers. Most will stocked bike co-ops or LBS should have some for a fairly good price.

Unfortunately, I don't have any copper flashing or any flashing laying around that I'm aware of.
Check around your chimney.

just got to the coop and the the right ones- the bigger ones are more valuable to you when you need them.
I got plenty of 22mm ones and wish i hade more bigger ones.

What kind of levers? For some reason I have a lot more 22.2 mm clamps than 23.8 mm clamps. And a lot more 23.8 mm drop bars than 22.2 mm drop bars.

Same here. I went to mount a pair of levers and only had one spare 23.8 and a whole bag of 22.2's.

There's no need to shim the clamps. Send me an email if you need a pair of 22.2mm clamps to fit Dia Compe/Weinmann levers.

Thanks for the input guys. I think I have a set of 22.2 clamps on the way. WRT the co-op having them available, the closest one is 50 miles away. The LBS is a very small operation and I'm supporting him to the extent possible, but he has very little stuff in stock. He knows I'm a different animal with my bikes and won't get much direct business from me since my bikes are so old, but he knows I'll get consumables from him and will send people his way.